G-20 Press Briefing Planned for Nov. 2, 2011

Digital20 Project aims to make multilateralism transparent for journalists

CANNES, FRANCE – Several policy experts who study the G-20 and G-8 processes plan to brief journalists gathering in France the day before world leaders arrive to meet at the Cannes Summit.

The afternoon briefing will cover a number of issues G-20 leaders are expected to discuss at the summit. Official government delegates to the summit will also be invited to the event to brief reporters on background.

Alan S Alexandroff, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
Don Brean, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Hugo Dobson, University of Sheffield
John Kirton, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
David Shorr, The Stanley Foundation
Yves Tiberghien, University of British Columbia

Multilateral organizations like the G-20, IMF, FSB, NATO and the Nuclear Security Conferences are key decision-making venues for world leaders. But these gatherings of traditional G-8 countries and emerging BRIC countries are difficult for journalists to follow closely.

Countries like China do not elect their leaders. Few have established headquarters. Most develop policy behind closed doors and in shuttle-discussions between capitals. It’s increasingly difficult to track the many multilateral commitments already made, the very basis of policy-making from year-to-year. By the time world leaders gather for a summit, it’s too late for thousands of journalists who want to know the back-story. The multilateral deals are already done.

That’s why the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Stratford Institute aim to make the work of multilateral organizations more transparent for journalists. These two organizations have partnered to bring together universities and think tanks to create the Digital20 Project, which aims to: